Valve organization



Nov. 21, 1950 w. c. JAEGLE VALVE ORGANIZATION Filed March 24, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet vl INVENTOR ZQ/z'azzz CJQeg/e 6? 5 XJJ-IORNEYS W. C. JAEGLE VALVE ORGANIZATION Nov. 21, 195.0

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mi n Filed March y24, 1945 BY $3533 'QW' Kw p MrzATTORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Klingerit,Inc., New York,

of New York N. Y., a corporation Application March 24, 1945, Serial No.584,575

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in tank attachments, and has to do,more particularly with the provision of a drain device for liquidstorage' tanks and like vessels in which an accumulation of sludge orsediment is experienced and tends to interfere with drainage throughconventional valve structures. In the case of vessels provided withagitating means for effecting mixture or suspension of their liquid andnon-liquid contents, the drain device must not project within the vesselin such fashion as to interfere with the agitating instrumentalities. Itis to the solution of these and related problems that my invention isdirected. It is a primary object of my invention to provide a draindevice for storage tanks and the like wherein the drainage ducttherethrough is provided with a valve which in normal closed positionmay be located accurately iiush with the inner surface of the tank orother vessel, which in open position offers a minimum of restriction todischarge of liquids, with or without suspended solids, through thedrainage duct; and which, in the event of the drainage duct being dammedby an accumulation of sludge or sediment in the tank itself, may be soactuated as to itself effect rupture of the sediment or sludge damwithout the introduction of a snake or other instrumentality into thetank.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a device for tanksand the like which can serve successfully as a drainage cut-off valveeven in instances where the liquid to be handled contains solids of anature which would interfere with or impair the sealing surfaces ofconventional valve structures.

It is also an object of my invention to provide such a device which maybe produced in a relatively few standardized sizes suitable forinstallation upon a wide range of tank and vessel types.

In the claims and in the description, parts are l identified by specificnames for convenience; but such nomenclature is intended to be asgeneric as the state of the art will warrant. My invention isparticularly defined inY the appended claims; and the best form in whichI have contemplated applying the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view through a drain deviceconstiuting a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to a tankof double-walled structure, a portion through the operating stem of thedevice being broken out to reduce the length of the figure.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same device as that illustrated in Fig.1, the parts, thereof, however, being shown in closed,sediment-clearing, position as distinguished from the open, drainage,position depicted in Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is a view of a modified form of drainage device installed upon aVsingle-walled tank, the position of the parts corresponding to thedisclosure in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a View of the structure shown in Fig. 3, the parts being, likethose of Fig. 2, in sediment clearing projected position.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view (on an enlarged scale) of thescrew-carried nut of the plunger element common to the devices of Figs.1 through 4. Y

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view (also on an enlarged scale) takenon the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view (drawn to an enlarged scale) showingin vertical section, the adjoining portions of the plunger and casingstructure forming a part ofthe device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line B-S of Fig. 3and revealing the independently adjustable packing gland of thatstructure.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 through 8, similar parts are identified bysimilar reference numerals. The device of Figs. 3 and 4 is identical tothat of Figs. l and 2 insofar as its plunger and plungeroperatingmechanism is considered; differing therefrom otherwise solely in detailsof casing and bonnet structure and in the character of its attachment tothe tank.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the device thereillustrated-is a drainage attachment embodying my invention installedupon a double-walled tank having an inner wall 4, and an outer wall 2arranged to define, therebetween, a space 3 for a heat-exchange mediumvsuch as hot water, steam, brine or the like. Asput' element l extendsthrough alined openings in the tank walls 2 and 4, is llet welded ushtothe inner surface of the inner Wall 2 at la and is formed with aflange Ib lap-welded at Ic to the outer surface of the outer tank wall4.

To the flange I b of the sput is secured, by means of a plurality ofstuds 6, a casing member 5 having a counterbore B therein coaxial withthe sput I, into which is snugly received a sleeve I provided with a.sealing ring 9 of packing material. The casing is formed with a flangedoutlet I6 dening, with the counterbore 8, a Y, and the Sleeve I0 isported at II so as to aline with the outlet IB and offer a minimum ofresistance to flow therefrom. A set screw I9 engaged Within a groove inthe sleeve I0 insuresv accurate registry of the port I'I with the:Outlet IB.

A plunger 1, having the rform of a cylindrical cup of greater lengththan the combined length of the sput I and sleeve I0, is snugly slidablyreceived in the sleeve Ill and projectable through the sput I asdepicted in Fig. 2. Mechanism is provided for so projecting andretracting the fplunger 'I to cause same to assume, selectively, eitherof the actual positions illustrated in Figs. l `and 2, and also thenposition represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2, wherein .the closedforward end of fthe plunger lies ush withthe inner surface of the vtankwall 4 and sput I. This mechanism is supported upon the casing by meansof a bonnet I 2 which, also, .serves .as -a clamping member by .whichthe inner sealing ring 9 aforementioned, and an Vouter sealing ring I5backed by a gland 25, are `compressed into leakage-preventing contactbetween the -sleeve I and casing 5 as well as into peripheral sealingcontact with the plunger .'I, enabling vthe sliding plunger movements,above described, without seepage therepast. The bonnet I 2 is assembledwith the casing 5 by 'means of cap screws 22, which aiord the means forapplying appropriate packing pressure upon the sealingrings 9 and I5.

The bonnet I2, an intermediate portion of is which is shown broken outto shorten the View, is slotted from its casing-attached Abase lflange2| yup toits head 40, providing diametrically opposed guide slots '30,3l within which the extended arms 36, 3'I of a crosshead nut 35 slide.captive against rotation for the length of .the bonnet. The nut 35 fisthreadedly associated with a stem 29 having a reduced outer end 4I by@which :it istjonrnaled ina doublerow annular .ball :bearing 45 mountedin the bonnet head 4u. yA handwheel 4l Ais secured to :the end 4I of the.stem 28 and, lfby its manual rotation, .the nut 35 may be caused totravel for the full l.length of ,the stem 2'9 between .the steinfollar.4,8 and the .bonnet head The ,nur as Vis. formed with a threaded plugportion 34 which is engaged within the other- :wise open en d of theplunger I and constitutes an integral lportion thereof .when soassembled therewith, -closing the hollow plunger space against.entry-:of foreign matter as well as .enabling re- .:tentionof lubricant-desirably provided therein to :insure free-running of the nut upon thethreads of the stem.

The function of the plunger `I as .a valve ele- A.ment for -closing the,sleeve port .I I `is obvious; `the ,plunger .'I -of my ,drain device:is not Va mere valve, for it serves to per-form aspecial function whichis Aof great importance rin tank Iinstallations for the handling ofliquids from which sediment .or ysludge tends .to precipitate upon 4,thetank -wall in the vicinity of the drainage split. Such pre--ccipitatiorh particularly inthe .case-,of tanks form- `ing .apartof-.digestera evaporators and like plant sistant to dis'lodgement asto impair or com pletely prevent drainage through the sput. Under theseconditions, it is usually necessary to bail out or syphon off the tankcontents and clear away the obstruction by means of a snake introducedthrough the drainage opening or by means of an implement operated fromwithin the tank itself, When one considers the problem of the handlingand removal of 'the freed deposits in the presence of residual liquid,solvent and iushing mediums, and the necessity of removing or workingaround such agitating mechanism as may and usually does form a part ofthe equipment within the tank, the difliculty of the operation .will bemanifest. Moreover, in heat-exchangeequipment, particularly, the innertank walls are desirably thin and may be of some soft metal for highthermal efficiency. The deposits to loe-,removed may, on the contrary,be extremely hard and tenacious, so that the implements required for`their dislodgement ,andv :breakingmp may, .of necessityJ be sharp,massive .or otherwise -risky to use.

.As has been indicated .in the introductorypor: ition .of this.speciiioation the present invention is directed to the elimination .ofthe problembf clogging V. orl-dainining of the drainage -orifice .of atank or the like `.with such accumulations, and this object is attainedby .my ,device without `the need ,for prolonged shut-downof thetankequin ,ment nor the use of tools which vmay prove .deleteriousinunskilled hands.

.Reference to Fig. .2 .of the drawing will Ireveal that by means of .the.threaded vstem ,29, ,the end of thepluneer J may-@be .projected so farbevond the' internal surface ,of V'the ,tank wall 4 .and .sput .l as topierce `or break loose any amount ci sediment, sludge, calcareous scale.or the like which might deposit across the sput passage and interferewith .drainage therethrough. Because of the .great .amplification .offorce .which lis 1de- .yeloped by an.Acme.-.threaded.stem isuehisommonly employed in bench vises, screwjacksetc.) .only a -slightmanual ,eiTort (applied .to rotation of thehandwheel'l.) wil-lsuince to,clear thermost .obstinate obstruction .across the sput opening; .and.the stresses ,incident .to .such removal .are inherently borne, almost-exclus,ii/elsa,bv-the massive sput I `and the .drainage .device:carried thereby.

.Reference has been made, .earlier in .thisspecimation, .to .the .factthatagitatng elluiillrieiit is commonly .employed within :tanks :and.the like .of

,the .type to .which the .present invention is .Gf

lltlltfy- Sllh aeitating equipment frequently the form of a bladedrotated hub coaxial with .the `.tank wall through which :the .drainagesput extends .and the blade `ele-ments often haveexrtremely smallclearance from such walls serving, in some instances, Yas -wall Scraperszto keep the wall as free as possi-ble .of scale or sludge which always.interferes with heat-exchange.

To insure vaga-inst inadvertent vinterference with, or injury of, such,rota-ted blades, means are provided for normally positively limitingthe projection .of -the zend .of the plunger il vto a .posi-tion, ,forexampleJ :flush miththefinner 1.face-:of .the'sput 3|., as indicated by:dotted lines Fig.. In the device illustrated, this means `.consists .of.a collar 5.9 snugly disposed ,around the hamlet i2 and locked thereonby -a set screw -,5I @ne Tof.thearrns .(3.1) of 7the1`nut-35 seeFigsfand .is provided with ,-a -bo-re within Y.which faspring- 'urged vbolt.38 extends -radiallyeoutwardly a .fd-is- .eq-uipment, frequently.becomes so :thickend re- ;75 .tance -suicient `to abut -thefoutboard,face :of-the vcollar 50 and thus limit projected travel of the nut 35,with its assembled plunger l, upon the stem 29 to the dotted-lineposition indicated in Fig. 2.

To effect clearing of the sput I of deposits which may interfere withfree drainage through the device in its Fig. 1 or open position, plungerprojection to the full-line position shown in Fig. 2 is undertaken as apreliminary operation. In

the case of the bolt-equipped device just set forth Y aspreferred formfor the embodiment of my invention, projection of the plunger to thefullline position'shown in Fig. 2 is effected simply by appropriatelyrotating the handwheel il while manually depressing the bolt 38 againstits spring .39 so that the nose of the `bolt may pass within theconfines of the collar Eil. Once having passed the collar B, thebolt-equipped nut, and its assembled plunger, are unimpeded by thecollar 5i) and are free to move until the stem collar 48 is engaged bythe nut 35. It will be noted that the boliI 38 is provided with a slotCia therethrough and a pin 38h which passes through this slot andinsures retention of the bolt in the nut arm 31. by reason of theinclined nose of the plunger 38, the need for its depression to enableretraction of the plunger by handwheel operation is obviated, theplunger being automatically cammed radially inwardly against theresistance of its spring 39 upon engagement with the inboard face of thecollar 50.

The detail view, Fig. 7, shows the structure of the joint between thebonnet l2 and the casing 5 of the device, as well as the screws 25a bywhich the annular gland provided for engagement with the sealing ring I5is assembled with the bon net I2.

It is to be noted that the device of Figs. 1 and 2 is applicable tosputs of various lengths, and therefore to tanks of a considerable rangeof wall thickness. The projection allowed the plunger 1, when unlimitedby the stop-bolt 38, is adequate to extend through a sput of evengreater length than shown and still suffice to dislodge or pierce asediment or sludge formation of considerable thickness. In order toinsure the operation of the bolt 38 so that the plunger will, in theabsence of bolt depression, lie ush with the inner tank wall surface,the collar 55 may be secured to the bonnet |2 at the desired positionalong its length by the set screw 5|. Under some conditions of use,atmospheric moisture may tend to collect within the plunger l. To insureagainst interference with plunger movement due to such moisture a vent52 is provided in the plunger.

The device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is, in its functiona1 aspects,identical to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. For an understanding of itsfundamental mode of operation, accordingly, reference may be had to thedescription given of the Fig. 1 device. In Fig. 3, however, the draindevice is so formed as to be directly attached to the tank, as bywelding. In a sense, the casing |05 thereof may be said to carry its ownsput portion ll which is permanently, or otherwise, secured to the tankwall. Such a structure is especially suited for installation upon singlewalled tanks, although neither the Fig. 1 nor the Fig. 3 device isnecessarily limited to use with any particular form of tank.

The bonnet l2 of the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is, as shown inFig. 8, of bifurcate form, the base ange being constituted by two feet|2| Moreover, it will be self-evident that,

6 which are spaced from each other. The bonnet feet |2|A are fasteneddown tight upon the casing I U5 by the studs 22 and do not serve thepackingcompressing function of the bonnet flange 2| in the Fig. ldevice. The packing gland of the Fig. 3v device is flanged to overliethe bonnetadjacent end of the casing |535 and is urged to bear upon thepacking I5 (and indirectly upon the packing 9) by means of its .ownadjusting studs |25a. This independent"gland-tightening arrangement isof especial advantage over the design depicted in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 ininstallations where the bonnet is of considerable length and lateralpull` upon the handwheel 41 may be or such magnitude as Yto tend tothrow the bonnet out of alinement with the casing of the bonnet if thebonnet mounting be even slightly yieldable in character.

I am aware that my invention is capable of embodiment in many forms andof materials other than those herein specified or conventionallyemployed in valve manufacture. I therefore claim my invention broadly,as indicated by the appended claims.

Having described the preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claimis:

1. In a drainage device, a container, a valve casing adapted to beattached to said container, a tubular guideway within said casing, aplunger longitudinally movable within said guideway, a stem mounted forrotation within said guideway and held against longitudinal movement,means for rotating said stem, a screw-threaded engagement between saidstem and said plunger whereby said plunger may be reciprocated, a detenton said plunger, an abutment on said valve casing adapted to coact withsaid detent to position said plunger flush with the inner surface of'said container and means whereby said detent may be released fromcoaction with said abutment to permit projection of lsaid plunger beyondthe inner surface of said container.

2. A valve organization comprising: a casing having an end portionadapted to be secured in a wall of a tank so as to form a portion of thetank wall, there being a conduit within the casing communicating withthe tank and an outlet from the conduit, a plunger forming animperforate septum for the conduit, means for reciprocating said plungereither to open said outlet, close said outlet, position the plungerflush with the casing end portion or project the plunger beyond thecasing end portion, a detent on said plunger, an abutment on said casingadapted to coact with said detent to position said plunger flush withthe casing end portion, and means whereby the detent may be releasedfrom coaction with the abutment to permit projection of the plungerbeyond the casing end portion.

3. A valve organization comprising: a casing having an end portionadapted to be secured in a wall of a tank so as to form a, portion ofthe tank wall, there being a conduit within the casingV communicatingwith the tank and an outlet from the conduit, a plunger forming animperforate septum for the conduit, means for reciprocating said plungereither to open said outlet, close said outlet, position the plungerflush with the casing end portion or project the plunger beyond thecasing end portion, one of said parts having a detent adapted to coactwith a portion of the other part so as to position the plunger flushwith the casing end portion, and means for displacing the detent toinoperative position whereby the plonger 'niey be projected beyond thecaeirg `'eind portion. Y

4. .A valve .organization comprising: a oalng having an lend portionadapted to be .s'eoiired in :a Wal-1 of a tankso 'as to form a -pofitionof the tank wall, there being a conduit Within ih easing communicatingwith the tank and an oli-tiet from -the conduit, a plunger forming animperfora-te septum for the cond-uit, means for reciprocating sai-d`pmnger either to open said outlet, close said outlet, vposition theplunger ush with the casing end portion or 'project the plunger beyondthe casing vend. portion, and a. member moved forward with the plungerand so coaoting with a portion of the casing as to normally `limit:movement of the plunger to a, position flush with the easing endportion, lseid member being readily shiftab'l'e to inoperative positionwhereby the plunger may ce riroj'eoted Beyond the yeasing end' portionwhen esired. A

JAEGLE.

REFERENCES' GITE!) 'The following references ere of fecero in the ile of"this patent:

UN'rrEDA STATES PATENT' s :Number Name 4Date 993,093 Mueller .r Ma'y 23,-1911 1,064,409 Wheary June 10,l l1913 1,467,492 Sep`t.- 11, 19231,511,302 e Oct. 14, 1924 1,639,853 Ang-(23, 1927 1,836,280 Y ,Y 1 -Dee.115, :191311 1,872,211 Yarriall Aug. 16, 1-932 2.17,353 Stecher Aug.2'2, 1939

